Every war begins when one side is pushed to the breaking edge; and when you see the abuse this ANYmal robot is being put through by these scientists from Robotics Systems Lab in Switzerland, you’ll know just where this particular feud started: Like many robot dogs, the ANYmal is a four-legged mechanical robot weighing 30kg and is built to withstand harsh conditions. It can walk through torrential rains, trudge through snow, climb uneven surfaces, and yes, take abuse from its human masters. With built-in cameras to capture images and detect heat, as well as a microphone to pick up sounds, the ANYmal’s prime function is to serve as a remote…

Don your favorite bathrobe, cream that coffee and get comfortable with this week’s SolidSmack Weekend Reader. The Weekend Reader features a handful of the most interesting articles featured on the ‘Smack over the past week ranging from tips and tricks to inspirational designs, processes, and more. So lay back, relax and take a load off while reading the top stories on SolidSmack this past week. Oh and uh…don’t forget to shed some much-needed sunlight on your face, too. How to Make a Slider for Amazing Smartphone Photography While he is best known for setting intricate matchstick pieces aflame, there is undoubtedly more substance to YouTube creator BLACKHAND than your average…

When it comes to sketching and communicating your ideas well, nothing beats a good old-fashioned pencil and a keen sense of perspective. That said, adding depth to your form sketches with light and shadow is a natural next step in taking your sketches to the next level. And when it comes time to cranking ideas out fast, our favorite go-to is a fistful of 2-3 Sketching Grays from Copic that give us great contrast. These ultra-blendable, low odor, alcohol-based inks deliver rich and smooth strokes that are ideal for quickly communicating product concepts. And unlike water-based inks, which tend to pill and oversoak paper while blending, Copics mix on the…

These days, you can get just about any computer rig designed to your exact specifications. Whether you’re a RAM-hogging SolidWorks user, or simply just want a powerful workstation, there’s something for everybody. But no standardized hardware mod will ever replace the satisfaction of building your own rig from scratch. If you’ve ever wanted to create your own custom-built PC but didn’t know where to start, boy do we have great news for you. The How to Build a Computer Bundle consolidates five intensive online courses (a total of 126 individual lessons) ranging from how to create a blueprint for your desired desktop or laptop setup to how to overclock CPU…

While he is best known for setting intricate matchstick pieces aflame, there is undoubtedly more substance to YouTube creator BLACKHAND than your average pyromaniac. Case in point: his wooden smartphone photography slider using little more than wood and a few metal fixtures. Beginning with two reasonably large holes drilled into a piece of wood, he glues the hole edges and fits them with one hollow metal fixture each. This first bit of wood acts as the base of the phone slider where the metal fixtures will hold the other movable pieces. He uses wood glue to attach four smaller pieces onto the top before adding another similar section with two…

It’s time for another round of apps that cover the spectrum of your beloved smart device(s)! The Weekly App Smack is the best of new or updated design and productivity apps (and maybe a couple of fun ones, too) for the busy design or engineering professional. This week we have a list sure to make you more efficient. Do you have an app suggestion that has made your life easier or changed up your workflow? Let us know in the comments below or send it into tips@solidsmack.com. Hit it! iA Writer (iOS — $8.99) iA Writer creates a clean, simple and distraction-free writing environment for when you really need to focus…